EVA will initially develop its platform on the basis of selected European laboratories that have already accumulated specialised virus collections and the expertise to take these to the state-of- the-art level through integration into EVA. However, looking further ahead, EVA was conceived ultimately to be an open entity aiming at "developing synergies and complementarity capabilities in such a way as to offer an improved access to researchers" In this context the consortium will have two important objectives: Firstly, it is anticipated that following successful initiation of the project EVA will exploit the knowledge and scientific networks of the Scientific Advisory Board members (which will have an impressive list of members), to attract the attention of all other international laboratories with relevant virus collections. Thus, through the links formed with the assistance of SAB members and using an additional linked intranet (developed within the EVA programme), that will be accessible to international laboratories with large virus collections. EVA will expand its collection to encompass all the most important globally representative laboratories. Secondly, EVA will also link up with other network-based virus-associated programmes, using an interface designed to facilitate the exchanges and integration (this will be the extranet or EVA network) between external/additional groups and EVA partners. In addition to the use of this extranet for the virus collections, it will also be designed and used to initiate training and other events organised in common with the training sessions. Thus, through the resulting exchanges between personnel from laboratories worldwide, the EVA network will drive the programme towards the second generation of EVA that will integrate a wider number and range of virus collections and associated reagents, together with international access to training and education courses. EVA will therefore provide science with the viruses and tools for fundamental and applied research; it will also feed improved scientific competence, knowledge and skills through its exploitation of the internet.